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The Haunting of Bishop Museum: A Cautionary Tale of Sacred Stones
Looking at the exhibitions inside of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, some claim that some of the guests are not of the living and that ghosts linger.
Looking at the exhibitions inside of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, some claim that some of the guests are not of the living and that ghosts linger.
The Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a treasure trove of Hawaiian culture and history, showcasing artifacts that tell the story of the islands and their people. Also called the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, it is located in the historic Kalihi district in Honolulu.
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But among the museum’s many exhibits, there is one that carries a dark and unsettling tale—a tale that serves as a grim reminder of the ancient Hawaiian belief that certain things are best left undisturbed.
History of the Bishop Museum
Before becoming a museum, the Bishop Museum was a boys dorm of the Kamehameha School for native Hawaiian children. After the philanthropist and businessman Charles Reed Bishop’s wife died, he built the museum in her honor on the former school ground.
Charles Reed Bishop’s wife was actually the Hawaiian Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, born into the royal family and was the last legal heir of the Kamehameha Dynasty who united the Hawaiian Islands and ruled until 1872. Bishop wanted a place to show off his late wife’s family heirloom and culture.
Today it is the largest museum in the state and showcases the heritage his wife belonged to. It also holds the largest collection of Polynesian artifacts, insects and books in the world.
A Sacred Mistake of the Exhibit
According to local superstition, a heiau—a sacred place of worship and human sacrifice—must never be desecrated. The land and stones of these sites are considered sacred, and removing anything from them is believed to bring severe misfortune. Unfortunately, someone at the Bishop Museum failed to heed this warning.
While designing an exhibit meant to replicate a heiau instead of placing a real one there, a museum staff member took the bold and ill-fated step of removing lava stones from an actual heiau to use in the display. Perhaps he didn’t believe the tales, perhaps he didn’t know. The stones, imbued with the spiritual energy of the ancient site, were placed in the museum exhibit, seemingly without consequence—until the next day.
A Mother’s Warning
That night, the mother of one of the museum’s employees experienced a terrifying nightmare. In her dream, she saw blood everywhere, and with a sense of dread, she warned her son not to go to work the next day. She told him that something terrible would happen if he did. But the young man, needing the paycheck, dismissed his mother’s fears and went to work as usual.
Upon arriving at the museum, he was assigned the task of repairing a problem with the roof or some sort of thing hanging from the ceiling. As he worked above the exhibit housing the stolen lava stones, tragedy struck. He lost his footing, plummeted through the roof, and landed directly on the heiau exhibit. His head struck one of the sacred stones with fatal force, and he died instantly.
The Haunting Legacy Inside of Bishop Museum
The museum staff was shaken by the sudden and tragic death, and whispers of the heiau stones’ curse quickly spread. It wasn’t long before rumors of a haunting began to circulate. It is said that they placed the lava rocks back at the temple, but did the angry spirit go back as well? Some say that there still is a menacing spirit lingering in the museum.
Employees and visitors alike have reported eerie occurrences within the museum’s halls—cold spots, flickering lights, and the feeling of being watched by an unseen presence.
Some claim to have seen the ghost of the young man wandering near the exhibit where he met his untimely end, his spirit forever tied to the sacred stones that should never have been disturbed.
There is a story about a janitor mopping the floor at night and suddenly heard the sound of heavy breathing. When he looked around, there was no one there, even when the breathing sounded like it was breathing down his neck. The janitor wanted to get out of there, but as he was leaving he saw the shadow of someone standing in the corner of the dark and empty museum. He ran out and quit the next day.
The Ghost of the Hawaiian Princess
There is not only a vengeful spirit lurking in the museum though if we are to believe the rumors. The ghost of Princess Bernice Bishop has also been seen in the museum. People usually claim to see her standing in the shadowy corners, looking at paintings or some of the rare insect species the museum holds. She is said to be a peaceful ghost, not really making the visitors or the staff afraid with her presence.
It is mostly right before opening and closing time she appears and the staff working at the museum recognize her as she is in old fashioned clothing as well as wearing her crown and jewels.
The Bishop Museum’s tale is a haunting reminder of the respect that must be given to ancient Hawaiian beliefs and practices. It stands as a chilling example of what can happen when the sacred is treated with disregard, and it continues to send shivers down the spines of those who walk through its historic halls.
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